Centennial players mob team mate Rachel Iacobellis #10, center after her game tying goal against Santiago in the final minutes of the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Centennial players mob team mate Rachel Iacobellis #10, center after her game tying goal against Santiago in the final minutes of the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Santiago goalkeeper Lynette Hernaez #1 makes the punch save against Centennial during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Centennial’s Gabby Breton #5, center celebrates after scoring against Santiago during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Centennial’s Gabby Breton #5 battles for the header against Santiago midfielder Rilee Harmon #9 during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Santiago goalkeeper Lynette Hernaez #1 makes diving save of a Centennial shot during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Santiago Maggie Johnston #32 takes the header in front of Centennial player during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Centennial’s Layla Comeaux #21 yells at the official after a no call against Santiago during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Santiago defender Maddy Bennett #7 battles for the ball with Centennial’s Gisille Michel #12 during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Santiago midfielder McKenna Carbon #31 chases after the ball against Centennial during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Centennial’s Gisille Michel #12 and Santiago defender Maddy Bennett #7 battle for the ball during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Santiago midfielder McKenna Carbon #31 takes the header against Centennial during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Santiago defender Maddy Bennett #7 fights for the control of the ball with Centennial’s Feenix Epps #4 during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Santiago defender Maddy Bennett #7 fights for the control of the ball with Centennial’s Feenix Epps #4 during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Santiago midfielder Jenae Perez #22 celebrates after her second goal of the game against Centennial during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Centennial’s Deniah Wells #13 takes the header against Santiago during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Santiago head coach Mike Fleming during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Santiago Maggie Johnston #32 moves the ball up field against Centennial during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Centennial’s Denial Wells #13 moves with the ball against Santiago during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Centennial’s Denial Wells #13 crashes into Santiago midfielder Jenae Perez #22 as they fight for the ball during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Centennial’s Deniah Wells and Santiago midfielder Jenae Perez #22 look for the throw in during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Centennial’s Stephanie Reckons #19 and Santiago defender Leila Peters #27 battle for the header during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Centennial’s Feenix Epps #4 fights for control of the ball with Santiago defender Maddy Bennett #7 during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Santiago defender Emily Reardon #12 takes the header over Centennial’s Elizabeth Alberto #22 during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Santiago Maggie Johnston #32 leaps over the tackle of Centennial’s Annel Parcheco during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Santiago midfielder Jenae Perez #22 walks away after trying to help up Centennial’s Alexis Sides #24 during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Centennial’s Alexis Sides and Santiago Autumn Thompkins #14 battle for the ball during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

The head referee gives a yellow card to the Centennial coaches against Santiago during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

The head referee gives a yellow card to the Centennial coaches against Santiago during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Santiago midfielder McKenna Carbon #31 heads the ball away from the goal on a Centennial corner kick during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Centennial’s Rachel Iacobellis #10 scores the tying goal against Santiago during the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Centennial players mob team mate Rachel Iacobellis #10, center after her game tying goal against Santiago in the final minutes of the Big VIII League soccer match in Corona on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

CORONA – Rachel Iacobellis netted a goal in the final minute of her final game at Santiago High School.

The former Sharks player scored the game-tying goal in the 80th minute as Centennial earned a 2-2 draw Thursday night against crosstown rival Santiago in a pivotal Big VIII League match.

“It was crazy. I definitely didn’t think it was going in. I kind of just hit it and when it went in, it was everything I needed,” said Iacobellis, who transferred to Centennial before her junior season.

Iacobellis played every minute plus stoppage time as Centennial (7-1-2 overall, 4-0-2 Big VIII) pushed its unbeaten streak to five games.

“It felt really good. This was the perfect game to score,” Iacobellis said. “This definitely puts us in the race, and if we keep staying strong we can finish league out.”

Centennial midfielder Gabby Breton had the game’s opening goal in the 11th minute, and goalkeeper Jessica Palacios made seven saves for the Huskies, who keep pace with Santiago with four league games remaining.

“What’s great about it is that we’re finally creating a pretty sweet rivalry, and that’s fun,” Centennial coach Evan VanderWeerd said. “These girls have worked so hard to get where we are, and it’s good to put a little pressure on Santiago, which has been so good for so long.”

Janae Perez had both goals for Santiago (17-1-4, 4-0-2), which had its 10-game winning streak snapped.

“We don’t like ties, but it’s the law of averages, really,” said Santiago coach Mike Fleming, shrugging off the result. “A lot of the girls on both sides know each other. It is what it is.”

The two schools played to a 2-2 draw in their previous match on Dec. 18, with Santiago scoring twice in the second half to secure a result.

Breton gave Centennial an early lead when she pounded a rebound past Santiago keeper Lynette Hernaez and into the back of the net.

Santiago earned a free kick a few minutes later, and with a set piece from the training ground, Perez ran to the near post and chipped a shot past Palacio for a quick equalizer.

Perez then gave the Sharks, the 14-time Big VIII League champions, a lead heading into halftime after her left-footed shot across the face of the goal found the inside netting in the 36th minute.

Neither team budged in the second half until the final minutes, when an injury to Centennial’s Edwyna Lainez gave the Huskies a throw-in inside their attacking third. Santiago was only able to clear Centennial’s throw-in to the top of the penalty area, from where Iacobellis fired it back on frame for a goal.

“It was a dogfight out there, seriously,” VanderWeerd said. “That whole situation sounds like it was the difference-maker, and it sounds like (Santiago) wasn’t too happy about how the thing played out, but I was concerned about my player.”